Notes

Rios entered as the # 2 lightweight in the world according to The Ring Magazine. Abril, a 5/1 betting underdog, was ranked # 10 by the same publication. [1][2]

For the second consecutive fight, Rios failed to make the 135-pound limit. He weighed in at 137 lbs. and was given an hour to lose the weight. He returned to the scales at 139 lbs. The Nevada State Athletic Commission fined him $45,000. Half that amount went to the commission, and the other half will go to Abril. Rios too agreed to pay Abril an undisclosed amount so he would go through with the fight at a weight disadvantage. [3]

Abril's purse was $100,000, plus he received $22,500 from the fine and the additional payment from Rios. The winner also received a $50,000 bonus.

Rios was originally scheduled to fight Yuriorkis Gamboa, who failed to make promotional appearances for the fight and pulled out saying he was unhappy with his $1.1 million purse. Top Rank and Bob Arum countered by filing a lawsuit against Gamboa and selected Abril as the replacement. [4]